It is heartwarming to see so many organic movements spreading positivity these days – it shows that contrary to the prevailing school of thought, Singaporeans are neither apathetic or emotionless. We do care! Whether to help the poor or to raise awareness about a cause – it’s great that Singaporeans are stepping forward, instead of passively waiting for authorities to take action.
Whether you are volunteering your time (check out a list of places to volunteer here), sharing their Facebook posts, or simply being inspired to change your perspectives, let’s stand in solidarity behind our fellow Singaporeans. These 19 initiatives are just a few of the many which show young Singaporeans have the drive and courage to be the change they want to see!
Similar to Humans of New York, the People of Singapore celebrates diversity in society, one face at a time. Through interviews with ordinary Singaporeans, catch a glimpse into the lives of our fellow countrymen.
Many of us are often caught up in our own lives and problems, including myself, but after a simple scroll through Facebook, I realised how little I actually know of the people around me. People of Singapore teaches us not to judge, for everyone has their own story to tell – the tattooed man you just cast a judging eye on might volunteer at orphanages in his free time!
Check them out: Facebook.
Singaporean of the Day is a series of short videos about the extraordinary lives of seemingly ordinary Singaporeans. Even though the Singaporeans featured aren’t celebrities, each has their own story to share. Be it a disabled boccia athlete, a bone marrow donor, or even the founder of pancake house Nook, each video will leave you inspired!
Check them out: Facebook | Vimeo
Nelson Mandela once said that vision without action is merely daydreaming. Even though many of us Singaporeans have big dreams, we can never seem to find the time or effort to carry them out. To encourage Singaporeans, We Are Singapore shares stories and promote Singaporeans who walk the talk, such as musical artists who are chasing their dreams.
Whether they are musicians, artists or even entrepreneurs, these people serve as role models for their perseverance in doing what they believe in, and for taking action. As We Are Singapore rightfully says, “here we capture the spirit of Singapore.”
Check them out: Facebook
Did you know that if all Singapore’s rubbish collectors went on strike at the same time, it would cause more health problems than if all our doctors went on strike simultaneously? Project Unsung Heroes is a movement which celebrates ordinary Singaporeans who work behind the scenes to do good, without seeking any recognition.
Through the use of storytelling and film, the movement spreads inspirational stories about unsung heroes, giving them the due recognition that they deserve.
Check them out: Facebook
Similar to Humans of Singapore, Pillars of SG recognises the effort of people who have worked hard to contribute to Singapore, such as social workers, foreign workers, nurses and cleaners. Through the sharing of such stories, Pillars of SG hopes to create a sense of appreciation and give them due recognition, especially since these people are often overlooked, and sometimes even looked down on.
Check them out: Facebook
Ever came across a ‘reserved’ seat specially for NSFs? Those chairs weren’t placed there by SMRT, but by The Hidden Good. The Hidden Good seeks to do the opposite of what Stomp – now seen as a platform for ‘public shaming’ – does, uncovering acts of kindness and altruism in Singapore which would otherwise go unnoticed.
Though canny social experiments, The Hidden Good aims to debunk any misguided prejudices and celebrate good deeds in society. Believing in the inherent good in people, The Hidden Good uses social media to develop a positive and vibrant Singaporean culture.
The Hidden Good is also the organiser of the MP3 experiment, a public participatory event where participants download a free mp3 file online, synchronise their watches, head to a public location and blend in with others. At a predetermined time, everyone presses play, and participants carry out hilarious, coordinated instructions by a narrator. An event for people to come together and have fun, The Hiddle Good aims to banish close-mindedness in society. Find out more about the mp3 experiment here.
Check them out: Facebook | Youtube | Website
Giving Tuesday SG is a movement that encourages Singaporeans to give – be it their money, time or voice – to a cause. Last year, Giving Tuesday was celebrated on 2 December 2014, when Singaporeans could join in the events and campaigns organised just for that day.
For instance, through the Eat2Give campaign, 25 F&B partners donated part of their proceeds to charity. Even though last year’s event was over, there may be one this year, so keep a lookout for it!
Check them out: Facebook | Website
No matter which kindergarten you went to, graduations were all the same: certificate, gown, and mortar board. However, last year, a group of preschoolers from less privileged families under Lien Foundation’s Circle of Care had something different. Under Superhero Me, they got to design and create their own superhero costumes, which they wore to their own graduation ceremonies.
Superhero Me is a values-based craft movement that inspires children to develop resilience and a stronger sense of self through costume crafting. First piloted last year, the movement won praises from the children’s parents, who noticed that their kids developed perseverance, had an improved attitude, and cultivated a stronger love for learning.
This year, as a celebration of childhood, Superheroes Me is expanding its initiative nationwide, with a Superhero Me Festival from 15 to 30 June at the NLB Plaza. If you’re interested in fulfilling the kids’ dreams of becoming a superhero, participate as a volunteer in the Superhero Me Festival! For adults working with kids in the early childhood or social sector, this free workshop to help kids rediscover the hero in them might interest you.
Website: http://superherome.sg/
How to Volunteer: Fill up the form here.
Sign Up For The Free Workshop: Click here.
Many of us dislike running – it’s boring, it’s monotonous, it’s tough – but imagine running with a blindfold on. Our main concern would probably be running into a tree or lamp post instead! As you can imagine, running is not easy for people with special needs. Running Hour, run by a group of volunteers, aims to integrate these people into society through running. Twice a week, able-bodied volunteers are paired up with visually or intellectually-challenged runners, and they run.
For people with special needs, it is a chance for them to enjoy the outdoors, connect with people emotionally and socially, and discover their true potential. Running Hour also organises an annual event where participants can run alongside 200 people with special needs, encouraging and showing support to them. As their motto goes: “run to bond, run so others can!”
Check them out: Facebook | Website
If you thought running with a blindfold on was difficult, how about playing tennis instead? If I were playing tennis without my sight, I wouldn’t dare to swing the racket at all. Soundball is like tennis, except that foam balls with rattling bead cores are used, forcing players to use their ears to form a mental image of where the ball is.
Soundball aims to help visually impaired people learn a sport, overcoming their fear of moving, and believe in themselves. The volunteers at soundball face an uphill task – most players have never seen a tennis racket being swung, and volunteers have to verbally teach them how to play and develop court intuition. As the players progress, they develop physical strength and stamina, and some have even gone on to run marathons and triathlons!
Check them out: Facebook
We Singaporeans love our hawker food, and so do the needy. They often just don’t have money to buy it. Through the CHOPE FOOD for the Needy movement, you can start off with your favourite hawker stall, prepay for a certain number of packets of food, and ask them to give the food out when they see or hear of any needy people.
It is entirely up to the hawkers to decide who the needy are, be it the cleaning auntie or the lone schoolboy sitting alone at the hawker centre. After years of working at the hawker centre, the hawkers will probably know best, and this chope food movement is a means to empower them – and you – to help.
Check them out: Facebook
As the name suggests, A Packet of Rice is a group that distributes meal boxes to needy residents and senior citizens living in rented 1 or 2 room flats. Volunteers also help to tidy and refurbish the houses through painting and cleaning. Check out their Facebook page for distribution dates and sign up now!
Check them out: Facebook
Happy People Helping People helps the needy through the distribution of food and goodie bags, organising special days when volunteers can bring their home cooked food to share with the elderly, and gives vouchers to help them with their basic expenditures.
Volunteers can play their part through donations, helping out with projects and at regular flea markets. If you’re thinking of throwing away items which are reusable, donate them, and 100% of the funds raised will go to a good cause!
Check them out: Facebook
In their campaign video, people were posed the question: how do you imagine your life to be like when you’re 65? For 35,000 elderly citizens, their lives are less than ideal – living in cluttered one-room flat units, with bedbug-infested mattresses and rotting food.
For a Golden Home aims to raise at least $25,000 to help restore the homes of these elderly through Project Homeworks. Simply join them by donating, pledging a project, or supporting the pledges.
Check them out: Facebook | Website
Instead of being a troll, why not be a broll – and spread some positivity online? According to a group of NTU students who coined the term, a ‘broll’ is the reverse troll – he is ‘the bro who always has your back online’. Broll Face is a movement that harnesses the collective power of social media for a good cause, spreading positivity via heart-warming stories and encouraging users to support various causes.
Broll Face is a champion of cyber wellness for children with special needs, raising funds for them to attend a cyber wellness programme. Previously, Broll Face had also joined in the East vs West debate, partnering with cafes to give a 10% off when Westies dined in cafes in the East (and vice versa).
Check them out: Facebook
The Everyday Revolution aims to raise awareness of and bring recognition to talented artists with special needs, especially those with autism. This then helps to empower the artists to make a living, advocate for equal opportunities in society, and provide a platform them to interact with the community.
Community-centric art events are regularly held, where the public can purchase artworks to raise money for organisations such as Assisi Hospice and the Cancer Society. Visit their etsy online store to purchase arty-farty works too!
Check them out: Etsy | Facebook | Website
We Can! Singapore strives to end violence against women, believing that people can effect change once they’ve recognised the problem, know of other alternatives, and are empowered to do something about it. Through the use of interactive theatre, intimate workshops and collaborative projects to reach out to individuals and the community, We Can! promotes discussion, transforming the underlying social attitudes that tolerated violence against women.
This people-to-people campaign utilises the help of Change Makers – people who commit to taking steps in their own lives to end violence. By questioning gender stereotypes and tackling discrimination, each individual can start on his or her journey of self-reflection and challenge such cultural beliefs.
Check them out: Facebook | Website
Have you ever thrown something away because you were too lazy to repair it? Given the prevalent buy-and-throw-away culture in Singapore today, Repair Kopitiam aims to encourage Singaporeans to repair their broken items – be it a tear in your jeans or a wobbly chair – and build a sustainable world.
Repair Kopitiam holds community repair meetups, where people bring items to be repaired to a designated space, and they are guided by specialists as they repair the items themselves.
Check them out: Facebook
Memories don’t last forever, and with the digital age, we no longer have to rely on printed photographs to jog our memories. irememberSG is a movement that encourages Singaporeans to contribute their personal photos or stories, collectively piecing them together to form the People’s Memory of Singapore.
Simply submit your memory, and stand a chance for it to be selected for preservation by the Singapore Memory Project. For the young ones out there, imagine how Singapore was like 20 years ago as you read the memories of the older generations!
Check them out: Facebook
Passion, creativity, and drive – these traits are certainly not lacking in Singaporeans! With the rise of social media, creating a movement is easier than ever, and it’s gratifying to see that Singaporeans are not holding back. As we start to look out more for others in society, I’m sure Singa the Lion will be proud.
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